Printing control apparatus, image forming apparatus, image forming system, and image forming method

ABSTRACT

A printing control apparatus is provided. The printing control apparatus includes a storage unit which stores at least one image, a profile generation unit which generates a profile to perform quick printing with respect to the stored image, a link forming unit which searches for at least one image forming apparatus in the vicinity of the printing control apparatus in a wireless communication manner, and forms a wireless communication link with the searched image forming apparatus, a communication interface which transmits the generated profile to the image forming apparatus with which the link is formed, and a controller which controls the communication interface to transmit an image which is requested to be transmitted by the image forming apparatus with which the link is formed in response to the transmitted profile.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No.10-2009-0111522, filed on Nov. 18, 2009, in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The embodiments relate to a printing control apparatus, an image formingapparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming method, andmore particularly, to a printing control apparatus, an image formingapparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming method whichare capable of performing auto-printing with respect to an image of theprinting control apparatus if the printing control apparatus and theimage forming apparatus are located near each other.

2. Description of the Related Art

An image forming apparatus generally refers to an apparatus that printsprinting data generated by a terminal apparatus such as a computer on arecording medium. Examples of such image forming apparatuses include acopier, a printer, a facsimile machine or a multi function peripheral(MFP) which incorporates the functions of the aforementioned devices ina single device.

A currently widespread image forming apparatus can be connected to aterminal apparatus such as a computer through a local area network andalso can be connected to diverse portable devices in diverse methodssuch as near field communication (NFC), WiFi, and digital living networkalliance (DLNA). The image forming apparatus receives data from thediverse portable devices and performs a printing operation.

However, a system in which a user prints data using a portable device ina short-range communication method as described causes inconvenience tothe user because it requires a complicated procedure. Specifically, auser must form a link between a portable device and an image formingapparatus, and then select data to be printed and input a command toprint.

Also, even if a portable device uses a technology of automaticallytransmitting an image to an image forming apparatus, a user must go tothe place where the image forming apparatus is located and input acommand to print the image. Therefore, there is a demand for a method ofprinting an image of a portable device more easily.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, it is an aspect of the embodiments to overcome the abovedisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above.

It is another aspect to provide a printing control apparatus, an imageforming apparatus, an image forming system, and an image forming methodwhich are capable of performing auto-printing with respect to an imageof the printing control apparatus if the printing control apparatus andthe image forming apparatus are located near each other.

Additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will be setforth in the detailed description, will be apparent from the detaileddescription, or may be learned by practicing the invention.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a printingcontrol apparatus which is connected to at least one image formingapparatus in a wireless communication manner, including: a storage unitwhich stores at least one image, a profile generation unit whichgenerates a profile to perform quick printing with respect to the storedimage, and a link forming unit which searches for the at least one imageforming apparatus in the vicinity of the printing control apparatus in awireless communication manner, and forms a wireless communication linkwith the searched image forming apparatus, a communication interfacewhich transmits the generated profile to the image forming apparatuswith which the link is formed, and a controller which controls thecommunication interface to transmit an image which is requested to betransmitted by the image forming apparatus with which the link is formedin response to the transmitted profile.

The profile may include at least one of a list of at least one image tobe printed by the quick printing and an option for the quick printing.

The option for the quick printing may include at least one of an optionof printing the image, an option of saving after printing, an option oftransmitting after printing, an option of printing a list, a size of theat least one image, and a number of the at least one image.

The communication interface may transmit the generated profile and theimage to the image forming apparatus with which the link is formed in atleast one method of NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, and DLNA.

If an occurrence of a printing error with respect to the transmittedimage is notified by the image forming apparatus with which the link isformed, the controller may control a user interface to display a messagecorresponding to the printing error.

The communication interface may receive at least one of apparatusinformation and state information of the image forming apparatus withwhich the link is formed from the image forming apparatus.

If the wireless communication link is formed with the searched imageforming apparatus, the storage unit may store a history of the wirelesscommunication link.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing an imageforming apparatus which is connected to a printing control apparatus ina wireless communication manner, including: a link forming unit whichforms a wireless communication link in response to a link formingrequest from the printing control apparatus, a communication interfacewhich receives a profile to perform quick printing from the printingcontrol apparatus with which the link is formed, a controller whichcontrols the communication interface to request the printing controlapparatus, with which the link is formed, to transmit at least one imagefor printing in response to the received profile; and an image formingunit which prints the at least one image based on the received profileif the at least one image is received in response to the request.

If the link is formed with the printing control apparatus, thecommunication interface may request the printing control apparatus totransmit the profile.

The image forming apparatus may further include a storage unit whichstores a printing option for the printing control apparatus, and theimage forming unit may print the received image according to the storedprinting option.

The image forming apparatus may further include a profile analysis unitwhich controls the communication interface to transmit an error messageto the printing control apparatus with which the link is formed, if itis not possible to process an image set in the profile.

The profile may include at least one of a list of at least one image tobe printed by the quick printing and an option for the quick printing.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing an imageforming method of a printing control apparatus which is connected to atleast one image forming apparatus in a wireless communication manner,including generating a profile to perform quick printing with respect toat least one pre-stored image, searching for the at least one imageforming apparatus in the vicinity of the printing control apparatusthrough a wireless communication manner, and forming a wirelesscommunication link with the searched image forming apparatus,transmitting the generated profile to the image forming apparatus withwhich the link is formed, and if a request for an image is received fromthe image forming apparatus with which the link is formed in response tothe transmitted profile, transmitting the requested image to the imageforming apparatus.

The profile may include at least one of a list of at least one image tobe printed by the quick printing and an option for the quick printing.

The option for the quick printing may include at least one of an optionof printing the image, an option of saving after printing, an option oftransmitting after printing, an option of printing a list, a size of theat least one image, and a number of the at least one image.

The printing control apparatus may transmit the generated profile andthe image to the image forming apparatus with which the link is formedin at least one method of NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, and DLNA.

The image forming method may further include: receiving a notificationof an occurrence of a printing error with respect to the transmittedimage from the image forming apparatus with which the link is formed,and displaying a message corresponding to the printing error.

The image forming method may further include receiving at least one ofapparatus information and state information of the image formingapparatus with which the link is formed from the image formingapparatus.

The image forming method may further include, if the wirelesscommunication link is formed with the searched image forming apparatus,storing a history of the wireless communication link.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing an imageforming method of an image forming apparatus which is connected to aprinting control apparatus in a wireless communication manner, includinggenerating a link forming request from the printing control apparatus;forming a wireless communication link in response to the link formingrequest from the printing control apparatus, receiving a profile toperform quick printing from the printing control apparatus with whichthe link is formed, requesting the printing control apparatus with whichthe link is formed to transmit at least one image for printing inresponse to the received profile, and, if the at least one image isreceived in response to the request, printing the received image basedon the received profile.

The image forming method may further include, if the link is formed withthe printing control apparatus, requesting the printing controlapparatus to transmit the profile.

The printing operation may print the received image according to aprinting option which is pre-stored for the printing control apparatus.

The image forming method may further include, if it is not possible toprint an image set in the profile, transmitting an error message to theprinting control apparatus with which the link is formed.

The profile may include at least one of a list of at least one image tobe printed by the quick printing and an option for the quick printing.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing an imageforming system including: a printing control apparatus which generates aprofile to perform quick printing with respect to a stored image; and animage forming apparatus which forms a wireless communication link withthe printing control apparatus if the printing control apparatus islocated in the vicinity of the image forming apparatus, and receives thegenerated profile from the printing control apparatus with which thelink is formed through the link, and the image forming apparatusrequests the printing control apparatus to transmit an image forprinting according to the received profile, and if the image is receivedin response to the request, the image forming apparatus prints thereceived image.

The profile may include at least one of a list of at least one image tobe printed by the quick printing and an option for the quick printing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects will be more apparent by describing indetail exemplary embodiments thereof, with reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming system accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view provided to explain an image forming method accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a user interface (UI) windowdisplayed on a user interface of a printing control apparatus accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of an option of a profile;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an image forming method according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method of a printingcontrol apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method of an imageforming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments, examples ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an image forming system accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an image forming system 1000 includes a printingcontrol apparatus 100 and an image forming apparatus 200.

The printing control apparatus 100 is connected to at least one imageforming apparatus, for example, in a wireless communication manner, andgenerates a profile to perform ‘quick printing’ (or ‘auto printing’)with respect to a stored image, forms a wireless communication link withat least one image forming apparatus located in the vicinity thereof,and transmits the profile to the image forming apparatus. The printingcontrol apparatus 100 receives from the linked image forming apparatus arequest to transmit an image to the image forming apparatus in responseto the profile, and transmits the image to the image forming apparatus.

The printing control apparatus 100 described herein refers to anapparatus that can exchange data with the image forming apparatus 200 ina method such as near field communication (NFC), WiFi, Bluetooth, anddigital living network alliance (DLNA), and may be a portable apparatussuch as a portable camera, a mobile phone, a portable camcorder, an MP3player, or a portable multimedia player (PMP).

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 1, the printing control apparatus100 includes a communication interface 110, a user interface 120, astorage unit 130, a link forming unit 140, a profile generation unit150, and a controller 160.

The communication interface 110 exchanges data with the image formingapparatus 200. More specifically, the communication interface 110 isconnected to the image forming apparatus 200 in diverse communicationmethods such as NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, and DLNA, and transmits a profilewhich is generated by the profile generation unit 150 and an image whichis stored in the storage unit 130 to the image forming apparatus 200.

The communication interface 110 periodically checks whether anaccessible image forming apparatus exists within a predetermineddistance or not. More specifically, the communication interface 110checks whether an accessible image forming apparatus exists within apredetermined distance of the printing control apparatus 100periodically or in response to a request from a user.

The communication interface 110 receives apparatus information and stateinformation of the image forming apparatus 200 from the image formingapparatus. The communication interface 110 may receive notification of aprinting error which occurs with respect to a transmitted image from theimage forming apparatus 200. More specifically, information of theprinting error may be transmitted with the state information of theimage forming apparatus 200.

The link forming unit 140 forms a wireless communication link if animage forming apparatus is searched within a predetermined distance.More specifically, if an image forming apparatus is searched within apredetermined distance through the communication interface 110, the linkforming unit 140 determines whether the searched image forming apparatushas a history of having been already accessed or not, using pre-storedlink information, and forms a wireless communication link with the imageforming apparatus using the pre-stored link information if the imageforming apparatus is determined to have the history of having beenalready accessed. The link may be formed in a different method dependingon a communication method supported by the printing control apparatus100, and the method for forming a link according to a communicationmethod is well known to an ordinary skilled person in the related artand thus detailed description thereof is omitted.

The user interface 120 has a plurality of function keys to allow a userto set or select diverse functions supported by the printing controlapparatus 100, and displays diverse pieces of information provided bythe printing control apparatus 100. The user interface 120 may berealized as a device which realizes input and output simultaneously suchas a touch pad, or as a device which combines the functions of a mouseand a monitor.

The user interface 120 may display an image forming apparatus that canbe connected to the printing control apparatus 100. More specifically,if an accessible image forming apparatus is searched through thecommunication interface 110, the user interface 120 may display theaccessible image forming apparatus. At this time, the user interface 120may preferentially display an image forming apparatus which has ahistory of having been already accessed. The above operation may beperformed only if there is no image forming apparatus which has ahistory of having been already accessed.

Also, if an image forming apparatus is selected by a user, the userinterface 120 may display a UI window to receive diverse pieces ofinformation which are necessary to form a link with the selected imageforming apparatus. More specifically, the user interface 120 may receiveinformation necessary to form a link, such as a user ID, a password, andan authentication number, from the user, and may store the informationin the storage unit 130. Meanwhile, if the image forming apparatusselected by the user has a history of having been already accessed, thatis, if the information necessary to form a link with the image formingapparatus is pre-stored in the storage unit 130, the above operation maybe omitted.

Also, if an image forming apparatus 200 having a history of having beenalready accessed is searched, the user interface 120 may receiveconfirmation regarding whether the user wishes to perform quick printingor not. However, this operation may be omitted.

The user interface 120 may receive setting of a condition regarding theprofile. More specifically, the user interface 120 may display a UIwindow including a first area to receive a condition to select an imagefor quick printing from among stored images, and a second area to set anoption for quick printing. The UI window displayed on the user interface120 will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

The user interface 120 may display an error message which is receivedfrom the image forming apparatus 200. More specifically, if an errorwhich has occurred with respect to an image at the image formingapparatus 200 is notified through the communication interface 110, theuser interface 120 may display an error message corresponding to theerror.

The storage unit 130 stores an image. Also, the storage unit 130 maystore a setting value for a profile which is set by the user through theuser interface 120, and store the profile which is generated by theprofile generation unit 150. Also, the storage unit 130 may storeinformation regarding the image forming apparatus which has the historyof having been already accessed. More specifically, the storage unit 130may store the history of the wireless communication link which is formedwith the image forming apparatus searched through the communicationinterface 110. The storage unit 130 may be realized as an internalstorage medium or an external storage medium of the printing controlapparatus 100, for example, a removable disk including a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) memory.

The profile generation unit 150 generates a profile to perform quickprinting with respect to a stored image. More specifically, the profilegeneration unit 150 may generate a list of images for quick printingcorresponding to the ‘condition to select an image for quick printing’which is input through the user interface 120, and generate a profilebased on the list of images and a selected ‘option for quick printing’.

The profile recited herein refers to information that includesinformation of the list of at least one image for quick printing andinformation of the ‘option for quick printing’ (‘option for quickprinting’ may indicate ‘a method for processing an image of an imageforming apparatus’. Two terms are interchangeably used but have the samemeaning).

The controller 160 controls the respective components of the printingcontrol apparatus 100. More specifically, if an image forming apparatusis searched through the communication interface 110, the controller 160determines whether the searched image forming apparatus has a history ofhaving been already accessed or not using the link forming unit 140. Ifthe searched image forming apparatus has the history of having beenalready accessed, the controller 160 may control the link forming unit140 to form a link with the searched image forming apparatus and maycontrol the profile generation unit 150 to generate a profile to performquick printing. In this embodiment, the profile is generated after theimage forming apparatus which has the history of having been alreadyaccessed is searched. However, the profile may be generated before theimage forming apparatus is searched.

Also, if the link is formed with the searched image forming apparatus,the controller 160 may control the communication interface 110 totransmit the generated profile. Also, if a request for an image isreceived through the communication interface 110 in response to theprofile, the controller 160 may control the communication interface 110to transmit the image requested by the image forming apparatus 200.

Also, if the link is formed with the searched image forming apparatusfor the first time, the controller 160 may store the history of thewireless communication link in the storage unit 130. Based on thishistory, the printing control apparatus 100 can determine whether asearched image forming apparatus has a history of having been alreadyaccessed or not.

Also, if an error message is received from the image forming apparatus200, the controller 160 may control the user interface 120 to displaythe error message.

As described above, if the image forming apparatus 200 having thehistory of having been already accessed is searched within apredetermined distance, the printing control apparatus 100 automaticallyforms a link and automatically transmits a profile and an imageaccording to a pre-set condition so that the user can print an image ofthe printing control apparatus 100 more easily.

The image forming apparatus 200 is accessible to at least one printingcontrol apparatus 100, and forms a wireless communication link with theprinting control apparatus 100 if the printing control apparatus 100 islocated within a predetermined distance and receives a profile throughthe link. The image forming apparatus 200 analyzes the profile andrequests the printing control apparatus 100 to transmit an image to beprinted according to the analyzed profile. If the image is received inresponse to the request, the image forming apparatus 200 prints theimage.

The image forming apparatus 200 is an apparatus which exchanges datawith the printing control apparatus 100 in diverse methods such as NFC,WiFi, Bluetooth, and DLNA, and for example, may be a printer, afacsimile machine, a scanner and a MFP which incorporates the functionsof the aforementioned devices in a single device.

More specifically, the image forming apparatus 200 includes acommunication interface 210, a link forming unit 220, a storage unit230, an image forming unit 240, a profile analysis unit 250 and acontroller 260.

The communication interface 210 exchanges data with the printing controlapparatus 100. More specifically, the communication interface 210 may beconnected to the printing control apparatus 100 in various communicationmethods such as NFC, WiFi, Bluetooth, and DLNA, and may receive aprofile which is generated by the printing control apparatus 100.

Also, the communication interface 210 periodically checks whether aprinting control apparatus exists within a predetermined distance. Morespecifically, the communication interface 210 may check whether anaccessible printing control apparatus 100 exists within a predetermineddistance of the image forming apparatus 200 or not, periodically or inresponse to a request from a user.

The communication interface 210 may request the searched printingcontrol apparatus 100 to transmit a profile. In this embodiment, theimage forming apparatus 200 requests the printing control apparatus 100to transmit a profile and the printing control apparatus 100 transmitsthe profile in response to the request from the image forming apparatus200. However, once a link is formed, the printing control apparatus 100may automatically transmit the profile without receiving a request forthe profile from the image forming apparatus 200.

If a request for apparatus information and state information is receivedfrom the linked printing control apparatus 100, the communicationinterface 210 may transmit the apparatus information and the stateinformation in response to the request. The apparatus informationincludes an apparatus name, a performable function, and a printingoption of the image forming apparatus 200, and the state informationindicates whether the image forming apparatus 200 is in a state in whichprinting is possible, a standby state, or a state in which printing isbeing performed. Also, if an error occurs while an image received fromthe printing control apparatus 100 is being printed, the communicationinterface 210 may notify the printing control apparatus 100 of theoccurrence of the error. The occurrence of the error may be transmittedwith the above-described state information.

The link forming unit 220 forms a link if a printing control apparatushaving a history of having been already accessed is searched within apredetermined distance. More specifically, if a printing controlapparatus is searched through the communication interface 210, the linkforming unit 220 determines whether the searched printing controlapparatus has a history of having been already accessed or not usingpre-stored link information, and forms a link with the searched printingcontrol apparatus using the pre-stored link information if the searchedprinting control apparatus has the history of having been alreadyaccessed. The link may be formed in a different method depending on acommunication method supported by the image forming apparatus 200. Themethod for forming a link according to a communication method is wellknown to an ordinary skilled person in the related art and thus detaileddescription thereof is omitted. In this embodiment, both the imageforming apparatus 200 and the printing control apparatus 100 search acounter apparatus. However, in another embodiment, only one of the twoapparatuses may search a counter apparatus.

The storage unit 230 stores a received image. More specifically, thestorage unit 230 may store an image which is received through thecommunication interface 210 based on a profile which is analyzed by theprofile analysis unit 250. For example, if the option “saving afterprinting” is set in the profile received from the printing controlapparatus 100, the storage unit 230 may store the image received throughthe communication interface 210. The storage unit 230 may be realized asan internal storage medium or an external storage medium of the imageforming apparatus 200, for example, a removable disk including a USBmemory.

The storage unit 230 may store information of the printing controlapparatus 100 having the history of having been already accessed. Thestorage unit 230 may store a printing option for the printing controlapparatus having the history of having been already accessed. Morespecifically, the storage unit 230 may store an output option for areceived image, such as 2-up printing and a duplex-printing. In thisembodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 pre-stores a printing optionfor an image. However, the printing option may be included in theprofile and the storage unit 230 may store the printing option includedin the profile as a printing option for a corresponding apparatus.

The profile analysis unit 250 analyzes a received profile. Morespecifically, the profile analysis unit 250 analyzes a list of at leastone image for quick printing and a method of processing the image of theimage forming apparatus 200 (that is, an option for quick printing),which are set in the profile received through the communicationinterface, and analyzes whether it is possible to perform printingaccording to the received profile. For example, if the profile includes10 images to be printed but the image forming apparatus 200 hasinsufficient toner to process the 10 images, that is, has a tonercapable of processing only 2 or 3 images, or if the option ‘saving afterprinting’ is set in the profile but the storage unit 230 of the imageforming apparatus 200 has a capacity to store only 3-4 images, theprofile analysis unit 250 determines that it is not possible to printthe corresponding image.

Also, the profile analysis unit 250 may request the printing controlapparatus 100 to transmit an image for quick printing based on theanalyzed profile. More specifically, the profile analysis unit 250 mayrequest the printing control apparatus 100 to transmit an image forquick printing set in the profile through the communication interface210.

The image forming unit 240 prints a received image. More specifically,the image forming unit 240 may print the image received through thecommunication interface 210 according to the option set in the profile.Also, if a printing option for the printing control apparatus 100 ispre-stored, the image forming unit 240 applies the pre-stored printingoption to the image and prints the image. Also, if the option ‘thumbnailprinting’ or ‘list printing’ is set in the profile, the image formingunit 240 may output a thumbnail or a list for the image.

The controller 260 controls the respective components of the imageforming apparatus 200. More specifically, if the printing controlapparatus 100 has a history of having been already accessed is searchedwithin a predetermined distance, the controller 260 controls the linkforming unit 220 to form a link with the searched printing controlapparatus 100. Also, the controller 260 may control the communicationinterface 210 to request the linked printing control apparatus 100 totransmit a profile, and, if the profile is received through thecommunication interface 210 in response to the request, the controller260 may control the profile analysis unit 250 to analyze the profile andto receive an image set in the profile.

Also, if an image is received through the communication interface 210,the controller 260 may control the image forming unit 240 to print theimage based on the analyzed profile. Also, if the option ‘thumbnailprinting’ or ‘list printing’ is set in the analyzed profile, thecontroller 260 may control the image forming unit 240 to output athumbnail or list for the image.

If the option ‘saving after printing’ is set in the profile, thecontroller 260 may control the storage unit 230 to store the image. Inthis case, the image may be stored in the same name as that of theprinting control apparatus 100 or in a different name according to apre-set algorithm.

As described above, if the printing control apparatus 100 is locatedwith a predetermined distance, the image forming apparatus 200automatically forms a link and receives a profile, and requests an imageaccording to the profile and prints the image. Accordingly, the printingcan be performed simply by locating the printing control apparatus 100near to the image forming apparatus 200.

Although only an image of the printing control apparatus 100 is a targetto be printed in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the image may be an imagefile of Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPG or JPEG), Bitmap (BMP),Tagged Usage File Format (TIFF) or a file which can be printed by directprinting by the image forming apparatus 200. The direct-printing recitedherein refers to a method in which a printing job is performed simply bytransmitting a corresponding file to an image forming apparatus withoutadditional file conversion, and JPG, Portable Document Format (PDF), andExtensible Markup Language (XML) Paper Specification (XPS) files areexamples of a file that can be printed by direct printing.

FIG. 2 is a view provided to explain an image forming method accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, if a user locates a printing control apparatus100-1, 100-2, 100-3 in the vicinity of an image forming apparatus 200, alink is automatically formed between the printing control apparatus100-1, 100-2, 100-3 and the image forming apparatus 200 and a profilegenerated by the printing control apparatus 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 istransmitted to the image forming apparatus 200 through the link.

If the profile is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200, theimage forming apparatus 200 analyzes the profile and requests theprinting control apparatus 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 to transmit an image forquick printing. If the image is received in response to the request, theimage forming apparatus 200 prints the image.

As shown in FIG. 2, since a specific image is printed simply by locatingthe printing control apparatus 100-1, 100-2, 100-3 in the vicinity ofthe image forming apparatus 200, user's convenience can be improved.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of a UI window displayed on auser interface of a printing control apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, a UI window 300 includes a first area 320 toreceive a ‘condition to select an image for quick printing’, a secondarea 330, 340 to set an option for quick printing, and a third area 310to display a list of images corresponding to the selected condition.

More specifically, the first area 320 is to receive a ‘condition toselect an image for quick printing’. The user individually selects animage for quick printing by selecting an area 321 ‘select image forprinting’, and selects an image within a predetermined period byselecting an area 322 ‘select image period for printing’ and inputting apredetermined period.

The third area 310 is to display an image corresponding to the conditioninput by the user through the first area 320 in the format of a table.

The second area 330, 340 is to select an option for quick printing, andincludes an option 330 of outputting a thumbnail or a list for the imagefor quick printing and an option 340 of ‘saving after printing’ for theimage for quick printing.

If the user inputs the condition for the profile using the UI window 300described above, the storage unit 130 stores the condition input by theuser and the profile generation unit 150 generates a profile accordingto the profile condition input by the user.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a profile according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 4, a profile generated according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may include information regardingwhether to perform quick printing or not, information regarding whetherto output a thumbnail and a list for a transmitted image, informationregarding whether to store a transmitted image in an image formingapparatus, information regarding an image to be transmitted, informationregarding whether to print only an image corresponding to a specificperiod, information regarding a total size of a transmitted image, andinformation regarding the number of images to be transmitted. Someinformation may be omitted and additional information may be included.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating an image forming method according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the printing control apparatus 100 is locatedwithin a predetermined distance, an image forming apparatus 200identifies whether the printing control apparatus 100 has been alreadyregistered or not (S510), and a link is formed between the printingcontrol apparatus 100 and the image forming apparatus 200.

Once the link is formed, the image forming apparatus 200 requests theprinting control apparatus 100 to transmit a profile (S520). In responseto the request, the printing control apparatus 100 generates a profileand transmits the profile or transmits a pre-stored profile to the imageforming apparatus 200 (S530). In this embodiment, the printing controlapparatus 100 transmits the profile in response to the request from theimage forming apparatus 200. However, the printing control apparatus 100may transmit the profile without receiving a request for a profile fromthe image forming apparatus 200.

If the profile is transmitted to the image forming apparatus 200, theimage forming apparatus 200 analyzes the profile and determines whetherit is possible to perform quick printing or not (S540). If it isdetermined that it is possible to perform quick printing, the imageforming apparatus 200 requests the printing control apparatus 100 totransmit an image set in the profile (S550). In response to the request,the printing control apparatus 100 transmits the requested image to theimage forming apparatus 200 and the image forming apparatus 200 printsthe image. At this time, if the printing option ‘saving after printing’is set in the profile, the image may be stored.

In this embodiment, the image forming apparatus 200 requests only theimage set in the profile and the printing control apparatus 100transmits only the requested image (S560). However, the printing controlapparatus 100 may transmit all images stored in the printing controlapparatus 100 (S570) to the image forming apparatus along with theprofile and the image forming apparatus 200 may print only the image setin the profile. However, it is understood that the error message may beoutput as a sound or light. These are just examples, and the errormessages are not limited to these examples.

If an error occurs in the image forming apparatus 200 during a printingoperation, the image forming apparatus 200 notifies the printing controlapparatus 100 of the occurrence of the error (S580), and the printingcontrol apparatus 100 displays an error message (S590).

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method of a printingcontrol apparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment.

A condition to select an image for quick printing and an option forquick printing are pre-set by a user, and a profile for at least onepre-stored image is generated according to the pre-set condition and theoption (S610). More specifically, a list of an image for quick printingis generated according to the condition pre-set by the user and aprofile is generated based on the list of the image and the optionpre-set by the user.

Also, the printing control apparatus 100 searches for an image formingapparatus located in the vicinity thereof (S620), and, if the searchedimage forming apparatus has a history of having been already accessed(S630), the printing control apparatus 100 forms a link with thesearched image forming apparatus (S640).

Once the link is formed with the searched image forming apparatus 200,the printing control apparatus 100 receives apparatus information andstate information regarding the searched image forming apparatus (S650),and transmits the generated profile to the searched image formingapparatus (S660). The generated profile may be transmitted only if thereis a request to transmit the profile from the image forming apparatus200.

If a request for an image is received from the image forming apparatus200 in response to the profile, the printing control apparatus 100transmits the requested image to the image forming apparatus 200 (S670).

According to the image forming method described above, the profile andthe image for quick printing are automatically transmitted to the imageforming apparatus 200 so that the user can perform the printingoperation with respect to the image more easily. The image formingmethod of FIG. 6 may be executed in the printing control apparatus 100having the configuration of FIG. 1 and may be also executed in aprinting control apparatus having a different configuration.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an image forming method of an imageforming apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.

If a request to form a link is received from the printing controlapparatus 100, the image forming apparatus 200 determines whether theprinting control apparatus 100 (S710), which has requested to form alink, has a history of having been already accessed (S720), and forms alink if the printing control apparatus 100 has the history of havingbeen already accessed.

The image forming apparatus 200 requests the linked printing controlapparatus 100 to transmit a profile (S730). If the profile is receivedfrom the printing control apparatus 100 in response to the request forthe profile (S740), the image forming apparatus 200 analyzes the profile(S750) and requests the printing control apparatus 100 to transmit animage for quick printing according to the profile (S760).

If the image is received from the printing control apparatus 100 inresponse to the request for image (S770), the image forming apparatus200 performs printing with respect to the image (S780). If the option‘saving after printing’ is set in the profile, the received image isstored, and, if the option ‘thumbnail printing’ or ‘list printing’ isset in the received profile, a thumbnail or a list for the receivedimage is printed.

According to the image forming method as described above, the imageforming apparatus 200 automatically receives the image and the profilefrom the printing control apparatus 100 and performs printing withrespect to the image according to the profile, so that user'sconvenience can be improved. The image forming method of FIG. 7 may beexecuted in the image forming apparatus 200 having the configuration ofFIG. 1 and may be also executed in an image forming apparatus having adifferent configuration.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplaryand are not to be construed as limiting. The present teaching can bereadily applied to other types of apparatuses. Also, the description ofthe exemplary embodiments is intended to be illustrative, and not tolimit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, andvariations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1. A printing control apparatus which is connected to at least one imageforming apparatus in a wireless communication manner, the printingcontrol apparatus comprising: a storage unit which stores at least oneimage; a profile generation unit which generates a profile to performquick printing with respect to the stored image; a link forming unitwhich searches for the at least one image forming apparatus in thevicinity of the printing control apparatus in a wireless communicationmanner, and forms a wireless communication link with the searched imageforming apparatus; a communication interface which transmits thegenerated profile to the image forming apparatus with which the link isformed; and a controller which controls the communication interface totransmit an image which is requested to be transmitted by the imageforming apparatus with which the link is formed in response to thetransmitted profile.
 2. The printing control apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the profile comprises at least one of a list of atleast one of the stored images to be printed by the quick printing andan option for the quick printing.
 3. The printing control apparatus asclaimed in claim 2, wherein the option for the quick printing comprisesat least one of an option of printing the image, an option of savingafter printing, an option of transmitting after printing, an option ofprinting a list, a size of the at least one image, a number of the atleast one image, or combinations thereof.
 4. The printing controlapparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interfacetransmits the generated profile and the image to the image formingapparatus with which the link is formed using at least one method ofNear Field Communication (NFC), WiFi, Bluetooth, and Digital LivingNetwork Alliance (DLNA).
 5. The printing control apparatus as claimed inclaim 1, further comprising a user interface, wherein, if an occurrenceof a printing error with respect to the transmitted image is notified bythe image forming apparatus with which the link is formed, thecontroller controls the user interface to display a messagecorresponding to the printing error.
 6. The printing control apparatusas claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication interface receives atleast one of apparatus information and state information of the imageforming apparatus with which the link is formed from the image formingapparatus.
 7. The printing control apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein, if the wireless communication link is formed with the searchedimage forming apparatus, the storage unit stores a history of thewireless communication link.
 8. An image forming apparatus which isconnected to a printing control apparatus in a wireless communicationmanner, the image forming apparatus comprising: a link forming unitwhich forms a wireless communication link in response to a link formingrequest from the printing control apparatus; a communication interfacewhich receives a profile to perform quick printing from the printingcontrol apparatus with which the link is formed; a controller whichcontrols the communication interface to request the printing controlapparatus, with which the link is formed, to transmit at least one imagefor printing in response to the received profile; and an image formingunit which prints the at least one image based on the received profileif the at least one image is received in response to the request.
 9. Theimage forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein, if the link isformed with the printing control apparatus, the communication interfacerequests the printing control apparatus to transmit the profile.
 10. Theimage forming apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising astorage unit which stores a printing option for the printing controlapparatus, wherein the image forming unit prints the received imageaccording to the stored printing option.
 11. The image forming apparatusas claimed in claim 8, further comprising a profile analysis unit whichcontrols the communication interface to transmit an error message to theprinting control apparatus with which the link is formed, if it is notpossible to process an image set in the profile.
 12. The image formingapparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the profile comprises at leastone of a list of at least one of the images for printing by the quickprinting and an option for the quick printing.
 13. An image formingmethod of a printing control apparatus which is connected to at leastone image forming apparatus in a wireless communication manner, theimage forming method comprising: generating a profile to perform quickprinting with respect to at least one pre-stored image; searching forthe at least one image forming apparatus in the vicinity of the printingcontrol apparatus through a wireless communication manner, and forming awireless communication link with the searched image forming apparatus;transmitting the generated profile to the image forming apparatus withwhich the link is formed; and if a request for an image is received fromthe image forming apparatus with which the link is formed in response tothe transmitted profile, transmitting the requested image to the imageforming apparatus.
 14. The image forming method as claimed in claim 13,wherein the profile comprises at least one of a list of at least one ofthe stored images to be printed by the quick printing and an option forthe quick printing.
 15. The image forming method as claimed in claim 14,wherein the option for the quick printing comprises at least one of anoption of printing the image, an option of saving after printing, anoption of transmitting after printing, an option of printing a list, asize of the at least one image, a number of the at least one image, orcombinations thereof.
 16. The image forming method as claimed in claim13, further comprising transmitting with the printing control apparatusthe generated profile and the image to the image forming apparatus withwhich the link is formed in at least one method of Near FieldCommunication (NFC), WiFi, Bluetooth, and Digital Living NetworkAlliance (DLNA).
 17. The image forming method as claimed in claim 13,further comprising: receiving a notification of an occurrence of aprinting error with respect to the transmitted image from the imageforming apparatus with which the link is formed; and displaying amessage corresponding to the printing error.
 18. The image formingmethod as claimed in claim 13, further comprising receiving at least oneof apparatus information and state information of the image formingapparatus with which the link is formed from the image formingapparatus.
 19. The image forming method as claimed in claim 13, furthercomprising, if the wireless communication link is formed with thesearched image forming apparatus, storing a history of the wirelesscommunication link.
 20. An image forming method of an image formingapparatus which is connected to a printing control apparatus in awireless communication manner, the image forming method comprising:forming a wireless communication link in response to the link formingrequest from the printing control apparatus; receiving a profile toperform quick printing from the printing control apparatus with whichthe link is formed; requesting the printing control apparatus with whichthe link is formed to transmit at least one image for printing inresponse to the received profile; and if the at least one image isreceived in response to the request, printing the received image basedon the received profile.
 21. The image forming method as claimed inclaim 20, further comprising, if the link is formed with the printingcontrol apparatus, requesting the printing control apparatus to transmitthe profile.
 22. The image forming method as claimed in claim 20,wherein the printing operation prints the received image according to aprinting option which is pre-stored for the printing control apparatus.23. The image forming method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising,if it is not possible to print an image set in the profile, transmittingan error message to the printing control apparatus with which the linkis formed.
 24. The image forming method as claimed in claim 20, whereinthe profile comprises at least one of a list of at least one of theimages to be printed by the quick printing and an option for the quickprinting.
 25. An image forming system, comprising: a printing controlapparatus which generates a profile to perform quick printing withrespect to a stored image; and an image forming apparatus which forms awireless communication link with the printing control apparatus if theprinting control apparatus is located in the vicinity of the imageforming apparatus, and receives the generated profile from the printingcontrol apparatus with which the link is formed through the link,wherein the image forming apparatus requests the printing controlapparatus to transmit an image for printing according to the receivedprofile, and if the image is received in response to the request, theimage forming apparatus prints the received image.
 26. The image formingsystem as claimed in claim 25, wherein the profile comprises at leastone of a list of at least one of the images to be printed by the quickprinting and an option for the quick printing.